Agarwood for Stomach Disorders: A Millennium of TCM Use — Do Modern Clinical Data Hold Up?

As a medicinal substance, agarwood is acrid and bitter in taste and slightly warm in nature, entering the spleen, stomach, and kidney meridians. Two of its three main actions — "moving qi and relieving pain, warming the middle and stopping vomiting, and drawing qi downward to calm panting" — point directly to the gastrointestinal tract. The GI tract is therefore not an obscure direction for agarwood but rather where traditional application is thickest: among the 57 papers in the Compendium of Research Literature on Agarwood and Gastrointestinal Problems, clinical studies of formulated medicines account for considerable space.

I. What the Clinical Data Look Like

The representative formula is Chenxiang Huaqi Pill (agarwood, costus root, patchouli, cyperus rhizome, amomum fruit, tangerine peel, zedoary, etc.). A randomized controlled study of 72 cases: Chenxiang Huaqi Pill plus domperidone for functional dyspepsia achieved a total effective rate of 94.59%, significantly higher than the 71.43% of domperidone alone (Chinese Journal of Integrated Traditional and Western Medicine on Digestion, 2012); another 40-case observation reported a total effective rate of 92.5% (Zhejiang Journal of Traditional Chinese Medicine, 2002); in the constipation-predominant irritable bowel syndrome direction, the total effective rate of combination with cisapride was 34.6% higher than the control group (cited from a review in Chinese Journal of Hospital Pharmacy, 2025). On gastric mucosal protection mechanisms, 2-(2-phenylethyl)chromone constituents have entries in research on anti-Helicobacter pylori activity, gut microbiota regulation, and the intestinal mucosal barrier.

II. Three Caveats That Must Be Noted

First, small sample sizes — the largest study had 72 cases, which in evidence-based grading is only preliminary evidence. Second, the study subjects are compound formulas containing agarwood, so efficacy cannot be attributed to agarwood as a single constituent — an inherent difficulty of compound formulas. Third, some data are secondhand citations, with original sources yet to be traced back; the compendium's editors marked this honestly, and we relay it as is. In addition, proprietary medicines have incompatibility contraindications (containing licorice, they should not be used with seaweed, knoxia, etc.), and caution is advised for pregnant women and those with qi deficiency and weak constitution — please follow a physician's advice when using Chinese patent medicines; this is not a mere courtesy.

III. An Industry Perspective

The GI direction is one of the smoothest links in agarwood's chain from "traditional use — formulated preparations — modern clinical research": the pharmacopoeia states the actions directly, the centuries-old formula remains in use, and clinical research offers citable data. For public education on agarwood culture, discussing the GI tract is far more solid ground than discussing anti-cancer claims.

This article is a review of research literature, for academic reference only; it does not constitute medical advice or any disease treatment plan. For related health issues, please follow a physician's advice. Bibliographic information in this article was compiled by the Wubaiyi Agarwood Research Center and the Zhongke Agarwood Standard Technology Research Institute's Agarwood Research Literature Compendium series (October 2026); please verify against the original literature before citing specific data.